Remarks of Louis Freeh in Conjunction with Announcement of Publication of Report Regarding the Pennsylvania State University

Philadelphia, PA, July 12, 2012 – Louis Freeh today issued prepared remarks in conjunction with today’s publication of his report of the investigation into the facts and circumstances of the actions of The Pennsylvania State University surrounding the child abuse committed by a former employee, Gerald A. Sandusky. Mr. Freeh will summarize these remarks during his press conference at 10 a.m. today.Mr. Freeh and his law firm, Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP, were retained in November 2011 on behalf of the Special Investigations Task Force of the Board of Trustees of The Pennsylvania State University to conduct the independent investigation.

The full text of the remarks follows:I. IntroductionGood Morning. We are here today because a terrible tragedy was allowed to occur over many years at Penn State University, one in which many children were repeatedly victimized and gravely harmed. Our hearts and prayers are with the many children – now young men – who were the victims of a now convicted serial pedophile. I want to remind everyone here, and those watching this press conference, of theneed to report child sexual abuse to the authorities. In Pennsylvania you can report child sexual abuse to the Department of Public Welfare’s ChildLine. That number – which is on the screen before you – is (800) 932-0313. It is our hope that this report and subsequent actions by Penn State will help to bring every victim some relief and support.

Penn State University is an outstanding educational institution, which is rightly proud of its students, alumni, faculty and staff, who, in turn, hold the institution in very high esteem. We understand and respect their support and loyalty, and the spirit of community surrounding the University, which we witnessed first-hand during our seven and one half months of work on the Penn State campus. We also fully appreciate the strong emotions which surround these tragic matters and our work. All of us here today understand that it is the duty of adults to protect children and to immediately report any suspected child sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities. Our team was reminded of this on a daily basis because Henderson South, our base at Penn State, was the former Child Care Center at State College, with some of the children’s art work still in the space.